STIJA RELEASES BISD NUMBERS

  The South Texas Independent Journalists Association (STIJA) has released its latest poll on the BISD Board of Trustees race. Here are the current numbers:

Position 2: Frankie Olivo, 41%; Denise Garza, 41%; Jaime Diez, 18%.

Position 3: Phil Cowen, 49%; Jessica Gonzalez, 22%; Argelia Miller, 21%: Viro Cardenas, 8%.

Position 5: Daniella Lopez-Valdez 58%; Erasmo Castro, 42%.

Position 6: Joe Rodriguez, 39%: Minerva Leal, 38%; Marisa Leal, 23%.

Position 7: Eddie Garcia, 58%; Carlos Elizondo, 42%.

"I know that I sound like a broken record, but candidates only need pluralities, not majorities to triumph," says Anthony Starr, the STIJA's longtime president. "The candidate with the highest number of votes wins. There are no runoffs.

"Starting with Position 2, Olivo has moved into a tie with Garza. He has come clean about past mistakes and this honesty has worked in his favor. Working on his Master's, clerking for a state district judge, hosting two different podcasts, the former concentrating on politics and the latter on athletics, Olivo has the credentials that Garza sorely lacks. She is depending on the blind woman vote while she viciously attacks the female leadership at AOBE. This abject hypocrisy has hurt her image, which is already clouded with dark rumors. Jaime Diez, the third candidate, is Garza's ace in the hole. She is banking that he will take from Olivo, which will insure her the victory.

"In Position 3 common sense dictates a Cowen win. His three opponents bring little to the table. Cowen, whose wife is a respected teacher in the school district, knows the BISD inside and out, having served as a trustee several years ago besides completing his present term. A lawyer and a businessman with a sterling reputation for his integrity, the poll indicates that the voters have an abiding faith in the Cowen's family commitment to community service.

"In Position 5 we have the classic confrontation between the beauty and the beast. If there was ever a fresh breath of air, it is Daniella Lopez-Valdez, a well-educated, young entrepreneur. She has no ax to grind unlike her opponent Erasmo Castro, who resigned from the board in disgrace after a drinking incident. He has propounded on his show Brownsville Talk that he wants to control all five seats on the election block and his followers add that he intends to become board president. Castro, a populist who uses his evangelical skills to promote himself, is preaching negativity when the constituency is searching for a positive vision. Castro had his chance and squandered his opportunity. The electorate is indicating that he doesn't deserve another.

"In Position 6 we have perhaps the most intriguing contest. Board President Minerva Peña has already sat on the board for 12 years and wants four more. Like JP Linda Salazar, she has her hardcore backers, but she has as many detractors because she epitomizes a no-nothing persona. "Coach" Joe Rodriguez, a legend on the border, is crusading in his Last Hurrah and his campaign is gathering momentum. His experience is woefully required during the present crisis. Just like Diez may serve Garza's purposes against Olivo, Marisa Leal may serve Rodriguez's purposes against Peña. The women split and Rodriguez emerges as the victor.

"In Position 7 Eddie Garcia, following the trailed blazed by his sister Gabby Garcia in her victorious campaign for state district judge, replaced Castro when the latter had to abdicate his post and has won plaudits for his performance. Carlos Elizondo, his foe, hasn't won plaudits in years. He was terminated as the city's fire chief, has been in and out of court dealing with felony charges and two years ago as a BISD incumbent finished third in a three-person race. He has allied himself with Castro and Cardenas and as Los Tres Buitres hope to control school politics once again. If the elections were held today, he would find himself finishing in his accustomed last place.

"Predicting outcomes these days with the BISD is difficult. Paired with the presidential race, there may be as many as 35,000 people who come to the polls, as many as 20,000 having no idea that the BISD is a political entity and all of the candidates little more than meaningless names to them. Suddenly factors like placement on the ballot, Hispanic or Anglo last names, and gender become factors in the result. Nevertheless, at STIJA we stand behind our numbers."